Reply #142: I'm not a writer for a living.

[Bluenorthwest]

Those who make lots of money did not just 'get lucky' they practiced good business, used excellent reps and protected themselves. My entire point on this thread is that it is odd to tell a small non profit publisher that they should not worry about making a living because a rich witer like Gaiman has different priorities for his current form of international, longer than a lifetime sort of sales. He's a huge deal, not a wee nonprofit. Gaiman is represented by CAA, like a movie star.
And also, note, Gaiman does not turn a blind eye toward piracy, he protects his work. He expects compensation. He is very wealthy at this point, so if the 'bottom line' was really of no concern to him, he could give all his future work away for free, or to foundations, and in addition he could allow free and open use of his work in adaptation to other mediums. He does none of those things, he protects his work on many many levels. He does not give it all away, not by a long mile. It is sort of fucked up for rich artists to suggest that they do not charge for their work like the petty middle classs. Gaiman is repped by CAA. CAA does not give away a dime. He pays them to protect his interests and make the best deal for him.
I'm in the film biz and I have made a fine liviing since I started out at age 20. And I most certainly protect my own interests, as does Mr Gaiman, by use of lawyers and agents and the full force of the law. Under no circumstances would I expect those who are not in that position to behave as I do, or as anyone else does. I do not give it all away. Theft is a fact of life in all businesses, one can not avoid loss, but one can prevent and mitigate that loss.